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doj.gov"O give thanks to the Lord for He is Good, for His Love endures forever."
— Divine Office, Psalter Week II, Saturday Office of Readings, Psalm 136:1 [click here for more quotes]
Quick headlines: FAITH TODAY: Third Sunday of Lent - Saint Bonaventure: A Man of Action and Contemplation ― Pope Benedict XVI -Papal Lenten Message 2010 - Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes:Pope Benedict tells Church to evangelize and care for the sick in body and spirit - Pope Benedict Audience on Saint Anthony of Padua
Wishing you a Blessed and Fruitful Lent modified March 9, 2010
Today's Readings + Today's Saint(s)
This Week's Readings: Sun.+ Mon. + Tues. + Wed. + Thur. + Fri. + Sat.
Next Sunday's Readings:
Fourth Sunday of Lent
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loc.gov
Faith Today: Third Sunday of Lent
March 7, 2010 - Readings - Faith Today
"'There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard ... he came in search of fruit on it but found none ... the gardener ... said to him in reply, 'Sir, leave it for this year also ...
it may bear fruit ...
If not you can cut it down.'"
... ideal resource for the daily Catholic on-the-go ... links to the latest news, cascades of inspiration including summary capsules of Scripture Readings, a taste of the Divine Office, Saint(s) of the Day, Papal and other prayer intentions .... click here for "Faith Today."
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Stabat Mater
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Pray for the Holy Father and his intentions: World economy just and equitable, caring for poor; African Churches serving justice, reconciliation ― Pope Benedict XVI's March 2010 Prayer Intentions
March 2010
+ General Intention: World Economy Just and Equitable, Caring for the Poor - "That the world economy may be managed according to the principles of justice and equity, taking account of the real needs of peoples, especially the poorest".
+ Mission intention: African Churches Serving Justice and Reconciliation: - "That the Churches in Africa may be signs and instruments of reconciliation and justice in every part of that continent"
... and recall that praying for the Holy Father and his intentions also is among the set of conditions when undertaking to earn an indulgence ... along with receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession), receiving the Eucharist, and being free from attachment to sin, along with the other special action for which the indulgence is granted, such as reading Holy Scripture devoutly for at least a half-hour ...
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Joseph Ratzinger
(Pope Benedict XVI):
Theology of History in
St. Bonaventure
(click here to order)
Saint Bonaventure: A Man of Action and Contemplation ― Pope Benedict XVIMarch 3, 2010
Once again using a general audience to catechize on the Saints, Pope Benedict on March 3, 2010, taught on the life of Saint Bonaventure, the subject of the Holy Father's own graduate work. Saint Bonaventure, a Scripture scholar, theologian, Franciscan Superior, Cardinal, and Bishop, lived in Italy in the 1200s. He contributed to unity between Faith and culture, himself exemplifying unity between Catholic Spiritual contemplation and a life of action ....
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rst.gsfc.nasa.gov Faith Today: First Sunday of Lent
Feb. 21, 2009 - Readings - Faith Today
"Filled with the Holy Spirit, Jesus returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the desert for forty days ... "
... ideal resource for the daily Catholic on-the-go ... links to the latest news, cascades of inspiration including summary capsules of Scripture Readings, a taste of the Divine Office, Saint(s) of the Day, Papal and other prayer intentions .... click here for "Faith Today."
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Sacraments: Reconciliation (Confession)
Updated Feb. 22, 2010
Coming home to God and Holy Mother Church in our hearts and souls ...
"Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God's mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church ... "
"To speak of reconciliation and penance is for the men and women of our time an invitation to rediscover ... the very words with which our savior and teacher Jesus Christ began his preaching: "Repent, and believe in the Gospel,"[ ] that is to say, accept the good news of love, of adoption as children of God and hence of brotherhood .... "
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images.nbii.gov Sacraments: Spotlight on Baptism
Updated Feb. 22, 2010
The Catechism of the Catholic Church explains: "Holy Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit ... Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as sons of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission ...."
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Lent: Crossing the desert, abandoning ourselves to God — Pope Benedict
Feb. 18, 2010
"That long time of silence and fasting for Him was a complete abandonment to the Father and to His Plan of Love. ... Going into the desert ... meant voluntarily exposing Himself to the enemy's attacks, to temptation ... entering into battle with him on the open field, defying him without any weapon other than His Infinite Trust in the Father's Omnipotent Love ...."
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doj.gov
Lent: Catechism of the Catholic Church
Feb. 18, 2010
"LENT: The liturgical season of forty days which begins with Ash Wednesday and ends with the celebration of the Paschal Mystery (Easter Triduum). Lent is the primary penitential season in the Church's liturgical year, reflecting the forty days Jesus spent in the desert in fasting and prayer. ..."
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pubs.niaaa.nih.gov Bioethics: Human Dignity and Natural Moral Law
Feb. 15, 2010
Receiving members of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Pope Benedict observed: "Recognising human dignity as an inalienable right has its first foundation in [natural moral law] - unwritten by the hand of man but inscribed by God the Creator in man's heart - which all juridical systems are called to recognise as inviolable, and all individuals to respect and promote."
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Faith Today: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Feb. 14, 2009 - Readings - Faith Today
"'Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours ...
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
... your Reward will be great in Heaven....'"
... ideal resource for the daily Catholic on-the-go ... links to the latest news, cascades of inspiration including summary capsules of today's Scripture Readings, a taste of the Divine Office, Saint(s) of the Day, Papal and other prayer intentions .... click here for "Faith Today."
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nlm.nih.gov Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes: Pope Benedict tells Church to evangelize and care for the sick in body and spirit
Feb. 12, 2010
"The Church ... entrusted with the task of prolonging the Mission of Christ over space and time, cannot ignore these two essential activities: evangelisation and caring for the sick in body and spirit ..."
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Abide in God and Keep His Commandments: Pope Benedict on the Gospel of John Chapters 15-16
Feb. 15, 2010
The Holy Father explains: "From God we do not ask anything small or great, from God we invoke the Divine Gift of He Himself. In this sense that we must learn to pray ... to Him to give us His Spirit, that we may respond to the needs of life and help others in their suffering .... "
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Saint Anthony of Padua: Example to preachers, and one of most popular Saints
― Pope Benedict XVI Audience
Feb. 11, 2010
The Holy Father used his Feb. 10, 2010, general audience as an opportunity to catechise on Saint Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church.... "Anthony made a significant contribution to the development of Franciscan spirituality with his outstanding gifts of intelligence, balance, apostolic zeal and, especially, mystic fervour... He was also one of the first, if not the first, master of theology among the Friars Minor."
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doj.gov Lent 2010: Message of His Holiness Benedict XVI: “The Justice of God has been manifested through Faith in Jesus Christ” (cf. Rm 3, 21-22)
Released February 2010 [Oct. 30, 2009]
"... Lent culminates in the Paschal Triduum, in which this year, too, we shall celebrate Divine Justice – the fullness of charity, gift, salvation. May this penitential season be for every Christian a time of authentic conversion and intense knowledge of the Mystery of Christ, Who came to fulfill every Justice...."
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Celtic Cross, Scotland
cia.gov Catholic News: Pope Benedict to Scottish Bishops: Renew focus on lay apostolate, promote respect for human life
VIS
Feb. 5, 2010
"... wherever the Lay Faithful live out their Baptismal Vocation - in the family, at home, at work - they are actively participating in the Church's mission to sanctify the world .... A strong Catholic presence in the media, local and national politics, the judiciary, the professions and the universities can only serve to enrich Scotland's national life, as people of faith bear witness to the truth ...."
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cdc.gov Papal Message for World Day of the Sick
Dec. 3, 2009
The Holy Father on Dec. 3, 2009, issued his Message for the World Day of the Sick occurring on Feb. 11, 2010, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
"In the Mystery of Christ's Passion, Death and Resurrection ... human suffering finds meaning and fullness of light. ... Following His example all Christians are called to relive, in different contexts, the parable of the Good Samaritan ...."
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doj.gov Catholic News from VIS: LENT: Salvation in Christ is the Foundation of Human Justice
Feb. 4, 2010
Pope Benedict XVI's 2010 Lenten Message has the Pauline theme "The Justice of God has been manifested through Faith in Jesus Christ." A Cardinal, Vatican Monsignor, and lay European politician appeared in the Holy See Press Office to discuss the Message ...
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Catholic Devotions: Spotlight on
The Divine Mercy Chaplet
Jesus gave us this Chaplet when he visited Saint Faustina in her convent early in the 20th Century. It only takes a few minutes to pray it, and, after an opening Our Father, Hail Mary, and Apostles' Creed, includes Chaplet prayers to God the Father asking His Divine Mercy and remembering the Passion of His Beloved Son Jesus. One custom is to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet every day at 3 PM, the time associated with Jesus giving up His Life for us on the Cross.
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nlm.nih.gov Catholic News from VIS: Health Care Council, World Day of Sick marked by Vatican ― "The Church at the loving service of those who suffer"
Feb. 2, 2010
"The Church at the loving service of those who suffer" will be the theme of celebrations marking twenty-fifth anniversary of the Pontifical Council for Healthcare Workers and the eighteenth World Day of the Sick, Feb. 9-11 ....
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defense.gov Catholic News from VIS: Catholic Church will always stand alongside Haitians — Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI invoked the Blessed Mother as Our Lady of Perpetual Hope and expressed solidarity with
the Haitian people in the aftermath of their serious series of earthquakes ...
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Catholic News from VIS: Announce the Word using new technologies — Pontifical Council for Social Communications discusses Pope Benedict XVI Message for World Day of Social Communications
Pope Benedict XVI views new technologies as tools to utilize for a positive contribution to pastoral care, "to make known the Good News of God's love for all people" ...
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Pope Benedict XVI Urbi et Orbi Message and Blessing
"May the Birth of the Prince of Peace remind the world where its True Happiness lies; and may your hearts be filled with Hope and Joy, for the Saviour has been born for us." — His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
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Mass and Holy Scripture Readings
This Week's Readings: Sun.+ Mon. + Tues. + Wed. + Thur. + Fri. + Sat.
Next Sunday's Readings: Third Sunday of Lent
+ Find a Mass world-wide (MassTimes.org)
+ Watch Mass Online: download Sunday TV Mass (Diocese of Burlington)
+ Watch Mass Online: view Sunday Mass (Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame du Lac)
+ Watch Mass Readings Online: today's Readings and Homily (EWTN)
+ Mass & Divine Liturgy, Faith Central
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Prayers of Deliverance: Anima Christi"Soul of Christ, Sanctify me; Body of Christ, save me; Blood of Christ, inebriate me; Water from the Side of Christ, wash me; Passion of Christ, strengthen me ...." - Back to the Top -
Here I am, Lord
Ave Maria
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Catholic Devotions: Spotlight on the RosaryThe Most Holy Rosary, Scripture-based and a compendium of the Gospel, as described by Pope John Paul the Great "[s]imple yet profound, it still remains, at the dawn of this third millennium, a prayer of great significance, destined to bring forth a harvest of holiness."
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Catholic Devotions and Angels: Spotlight on The Saint Michael the Archangel Chaplet
The devotee seeks God's Grace for various intentions and virtues. This Chaplet honors Saint Michael the Archangel, other Archangels, and in fact nine choirs of Holy Angels, seeking their intercession and assistance. In addition to the Chaplet prayers, there is extensive praying of the Our Father and the Hail Mary, as well as an opening that includes "God come to my Assistance" and a Glory Be.
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Catholic Washington: Catholic Events, Links
... Catholic events, links for the Washington, D.C., area; check back for frequent updates ...
Revised Sunday Oct. 25, 2009
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Catholic News & Resource Links
+ VATICAN: Apostolic Constitution on Anglicans reunifying with Rome
+ VATICAN: Year for Priests resources
+ VATICAN: Caritas In Veritate Encyclical
+ U.S. Bishops Launch Web Site on Health Care Reform
new USCCB website on health care debate: www.usccb.org/healthcare
+ Environmental Theme for World Day of Peace - Vatican
+ Committee on Divine Worship Roman Missal Website - USCCB
new USCCB website to educate Catholics about the forthcoming English translation of the new Roman Missal, i.e., changes in what we say at Mass ... www.usccb.org/romanmissal
+ Archbishop O’Brien Calls for ‘Path to Zero’ Nuclear Weapons in Talk to Deterrence Symposium - USCCB
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Fruits of the Holy Spirit ... from Pentecost Sunday
The Fruits of the Holy Spirit, as explained by the Apostle Paul (in Galatians 5, in one of the alternatives for the Second Reading for Pentecost Sunday), include Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Generosity, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-Control
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Sacred Heart of Jesus: Pope John Paul the Great Homily on the Sacred Heart, from 1984 Apostolic Journey
This external link opens the Vatican transcript of a wide-ranging and inspiring Homily by Pope John Paul the Great on the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, given on an Apostolic Journey to Canada in 1984 (opens in new window).
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Spotlight on The Stations of the Cross
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Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours)
Invitatory, Office of Readings, Morning Prayer, Daily Prayer, Evening Prayer (Vespers), Night Prayer (Compline) ...
+ Spotlight on the Divine Office (Liturgy of the Hours)
... The Liturgy of the Hours, in addition to the Mass, is the Universal Prayer of Holy Mother Church ...
+ Liturgy of the Hours online [partial free access; external link]
[external site ebreviary.com includes daily Night Prayer, full Liturgy of the Hours for Sundays and Fridays, and paid subscription for additional days ...]
+ "The Liturgy of the Hours" — Catechism of the Catholic Church [external link, new window]
"The Liturgy of the Hours is intended to become the prayer of the whole People of God. In it Christ himself "continues his priestly work through his Church. ... The celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours demands not only harmonizing the voice with the praying heart, but also a deeper 'understanding of the liturgy and of the Bible, especially of the Psalms.'"
+ "General Instruction on the Liturgy of the Hours" — Congregation For Divine Worship [external link, new window]
"To the different hours of the day the Liturgy of the Hours extends ... praise and thanksgiving, the memorial of the mysteries of salvation, the petitions and the foretaste of Heavenly Glory ... present in the Eucharistic Mystery ... The Liturgy of the Hours is in turn an excellent preparation for the celebration of the Eucharist itself ... it inspires and deepens in a fitting way the dispositions necessary for the fruitful celebration of the eucharist: Faith, Hope, Love, Devotion, and the Spirit of Self-Denial."
+ Listen Online: Morning Prayer
... from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame du Lac (sung and spoken)
+ Listen Online: Evening Prayer (Vespers)
... from the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, University of Notre Dame du Lac (sung and spoken)
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